Nebraska man dies in motorcycle accident in Sangamon County

MECHANICSBURG (Heartland Newsfeed) — A deer running across an interstate in Central Illinois created a road hazard for an out-of-state motorcyclist, which resulted in being dislodged from the motorcycle and was declared dead Monday night, according to a preliminary investigation by the Illinois State Police.

The incident happened along Interstate 72 at mile marker 112.5, which is between Mechanicsburg and Riverton, where a 68-year-old man from Gretna, Nebraska was traveling westbound in a black 2012 Harley Davidson when a deer ran in front of the motorcycle, according to a witness. The man was ejected from the vehicle and came to a rest on the shoulder of the roadway.

The man was transported by Lifestar Ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The name of the man is not known at this time, as the Illinois State Police try to contact next of kin, but the report noted that he was wearing a helmet.

Jake Leonard is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. He is general manager of Heartland Internet Media Networks and an active contributor to four newspapers for Pana News Group. He also serves as chairman of Tri-Counties Libertarian Party and Capital Area Libertarian Party, deputy candidate recruitment director for the Libertarian Party of Illinois and as chairman/co-founder of the Libertarian Party Millennial Caucus.